ingranaggio
gear
The Italian word 'ingranaggio' translates to 'gear' in English. It is used to refer to a toothed wheel or cylinder that meshes with another toothed component to transmit motion or to change speed or direction. It can also refer to the overall mechanism or system of gears in a machine. In everyday conversation, 'ingranaggio' can also be used metaphorically to refer to a complex system or situation, similar to the English phrase 'cog in the machine'.
Example sentences using: ingranaggio
Il mio orologio ha un ingranaggio rotto.
My watch has a broken gear.
This sentence is pretty straight-forward and it is informing that the speaker's watch has a damaged gear. In this context, 'ingranaggio' is referring to one of the many gears typically found in a mechanical watch that helps to keep proper time.
Il successo di un'organizzazione spesso dipende dagli ingranaggi che la compongono.
The success of an organization often depends on the gears that make it up.
In this example, 'ingranaggi' is used as a metaphor to refer to the components or people that make up an organization. 'Ingranaggi' is not just used in its literal sense of mechanical gears, it can also be used metaphorically to describe the moving parts or important components of something bigger. It implies that if one gear or part (an employee, department, etc.) fails, it can affect the entire system (or organization).
Sto studiando come funzionano gli ingranaggi in una macchina.
I am studying how gears work in a car.
This straightforward sentence refers to the speaker studying or learning about the functionality of gears within a vehicle. Again, 'ingranaggi' refers to the literal physical gears present inside the car's mechanics. It implies that the speaker is likely studying some type of mechanical or automotive engineering.